70 dagmar kühn
the origin of metals is not always clearly determinable. deposits of
copper,229 iron,230 and tin231 existed in the mountains of the amanus and/
or the taurus. the metals could have been exported from these regions to
other Syrian areas for refining and working.232
the assyrians received larger amounts of tin from Bit Zamanni, Laqe,
and pattina. especially in the case of tin is debatable whether it was of
western provenance233 or was imported from afghanistan.234 Kunulua
in pattina may have been an important trade center for imported tin.235
most metals were first smelted to bars and then further processed to pro-
duce weapons, decorations, jewelry, and other items.236
typical tributes to the assyrians were often paid in silver,237 sometimes
in gold, tin, copper, or other raw materials. the aramaean kingdoms had
silver deposits in their territories prominent among which were damas-
cus and arpad.238
229 copper deposits can be found in the taurus region, but there are also other impor-
tant deposits in the Levant and abroad, which might have played some role; see muhly
1993–1997: 130f.
230 dion 1997: 349.
231 Small deposits of tin are assumed in the central taurus mountains, see Lipiński
2000a: 537 with n. 150. it is debated whether this tin played a considerable role in metal-
working at all (see below).
232 Lipiński 2000a: 537. For the difficulty of identifying bronze metal workshops, cf. the
contribution of d. Bonatz in this volume.
233 Lipiński 2000a: 537 and id. 2010: 35f assumes that this tin was of western prov-
enance, because tin sources were found in the taurus region.
234 muhly 1993–1997: 132: “the tin source in the central taurus is at present more prob-
lematic. the geological presence of tin has been identified in the area, but in concentra-
tions of no more than 0,6% tin in the host rock.” dion 1997: 354 therefore assumes that tin
was mainly brought to Bit Zamanni through long-distance trade from afghanistan.
235 Lipiński 2000a: 538.
236 dion 1997: 355f.
237 dion 1997: 348 hints at the contradictory references of adad-nerari iii, who received
silver tribute from damascus. rima 3, a.0.104.7, p. 211, line 6 records 2000 talents of silver
and a.102.6, p. 209, line 20 records 1000 talents, while text a.0.102.8, p. 213, line 18 records
2300 talents.
238 dion 1997: 348.